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Politics in Comic Books

Wednesday, October 29th, 2008 – running time 23:35
Politics in Comic Books
Politics are everywhere! You can't escape them! This week, iFanboy looks at IDW's Obama and McCain biography comics, and some other series dripping with the business of politics.

There is no shortage of politics creeping up in the world of comic books. This week Ron, Josh, and Conor show off some different ways politics have shown up in the pages of our favorite books.

This past month, IDW Publishing released two bio comics titled Presidential Material Barack Obama and another about John McCain. We take a look at these issues, and let you know if they're worth reading, and if they're actually good comic books. You can even watch them on your iPhone or Touch.

Then we go over some comics where politics are central to the story, including Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson's Transmetropolitan and Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' Ex Machina. Both of these excellent books come at politics, but from different angles entirely.

Finally, we talk about politics in the Superhero world, and how DC and Marvel deal with government in their respective universes.

We try to stay on message, and no once do we flip flop in the entire episode.

Previous: No Theme for These Comics - The Damned, Exit Wounds and Emperor Doom

Next: Image Comics

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ConorKilpatrick

Started discussion: October 29, 2008 @ 12:05pm GMT

Episode 94 - Politics in Comic Books [Discussion]

Politics are everywhere! You can't escape them! This week, iFanboy looks at IDW's Obama and McCain biography comics, and some other series dripping with the business of politics.

Click here to watch the show.

There is no shortage of politics creeping up in the world of comic books. This week Ron, Josh, and Conor show off some different ways politics have shown up in the pages of our favorite books.

This past month, IDW Publishing released two bio comics titled Presidential Material Barack Obama and another about John McCain. We take a look at these issues, and let you know if they're worth reading, and if they're actually good comic books. You can even watch them on your iPhone or Touch.

Then we go over some comics where politics are central to the story, including Warren Ellis and Darick Robertson's Transmetropolitan and Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris' Ex Machina. Both of these excellent books come at politics, but from different angles entirely.

Finally, we talk about politics in the Superhero world, and how DC and Marvel deal with government in their respective universes.

We try to stay on message, and not once do we flip flop in the entire episode.

Note: This is not a forum for campaigning and political debate. If you want to talk about politics within comics, or their place in comics, go for it. Actual political debate (which is healthy and excellent, but belongs in other forums) will be deleted. We know you can do it, so play nice. Thanks!

Cadgers
8 months ago
I've been meaning to check out Transmetropolitan for so long but it always just slips my mind as I get to the store so it's great to see that you guys enjoyed it. On Ex Machina though I totally agree with Conor on how the best parts of the book are when Mitchell is dealing with all the stuff that comes along with being the Mayor of NYC.
Labor_Days
8 months ago
I love when Ron says he is not a fan of politics. As though he were saying he is not a fan of say, early 80's Synth-Pop.
Tad
8 months ago
Decent show but two things bothered me: too much time on the McCain/Obama comics. Lots of repetition in that segment. Secondly, Ron's hair was right at the level of the picture frame behind him making a weird composition.

Nitpicky enough?

Nice shout out to you guys on The Totally Rad Show this week. I guess there will be no shirtless knife fights to determine Revision 3 dominance.

Thanks again for the effort you put in each week.
TheNextChampion
8 months ago
In reply to Tad:
Decent show but two things bothered me: too much time on the McCain/Obama comics. Lots of repetition in that segment. Secondly, Ron's hair was right at the level of the picture frame behind him making a weird composition.

Nitpicky enough?

Nice shout out to you guys on The Totally Rad Show this week. I guess there will be no shirtless knife fights to determine Revision 3 dominance.

Thanks again for the effort you put in each week.


Ron was having his portrait done and he needed to be right on level for the guy to get the right angle to paint.

Great show overall, very informative and entertaining. Although I wished we could've heard a bit about Cerebus. When it comes to politics that comic, or anything Dave Sim has done has a wealth of politics involved. Sill shocked as anybody that those IDW issues were unbias and really good. But I hear they are doing a Sarah Palin issue as well....Is it wrong to say I want to buy that and then burn it? :)
JAFlanagan
8 months ago
In reply to Labor_Days:
I love when Ron says he is not a fan of politics. As though he were saying he is not a fan of say, early 80's Synth-Pop.


It KILLS me.
JasonB35
8 months ago
I think one of the interesting themes that runs through most of comics is that rarely is the government seen as a help or a force for good. Usually it is seen as either part of the problem or just corrupt in general. Granted many of the characters in comics are working outside the law. One of the few exceptions I think is Marvel having the Avengers or Fantastic Four being accepted or authorized super teams at times while many other characters such as Spiderman, Daredevil and the X-men are considered outlaws. But even with the Avengers you had political hacks like Henry Gyrich interfering and causing problems.
droracle
8 months ago
World War 2 is one of the few era's where the US government is more often than not seen as a more benevolent force, there are exceptions for course. But in the DC Universe, one instance that comes to mind is in Roy Thomas's 80's DC work where he had Franklin Roosevelt call heroes to action leading to the formation of the All Star Squadron.

Then as a malevolent force Congress and the McCarthy hearings were also responsible for the disbanding of JSA after the war when there were suspicions about masked vigilantes.

Good show guys! I'll have to check out Ex Machina.
CammyKnoxville
8 months ago
I pretty much covered the same topics in my Political episode, only I forgot Transmet.

Well played, iFanboys.
mebe
8 months ago
great show, that mccain/obama comic looks interesting. Wonder if they have large dist. in canada.
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